• To view the data catalogue, click this link👉🔗HDRC Data Catalogue

    • As an HDRC, we are on a transformative journey to foster a culture within RCT Council that places research and evidence at the core of its decision-making processes. Our primary aim in doing this is to address the long-standing health inequalities by creating a sustainable infrastructure that empowers staff, citizens, and partners to generate, access, and use evidence effectively.{mlang} 

      A key pillar of this transformation is the centralisation of data and the development of a robust evidence ecosystem. Historically, while RCT has been data-rich, the ability to translate this data into actionable insights has been limited by fragmented access, inconsistent quality, and a lack of research infrastructure. Our aim is to address this by integrating evidence into the Council’s Performance Management Framework (PMF), aligning research with strategic priorities, and fostering a culture where data is not just collected—but actively used to shape policy and services. 

      To support this, we have developed a Data Catalogue — a curated, accessible, and continually updated resource that brings together a wide range of datasets, reports, dashboards, and tools. Whilst still currently in development, our aim in designing the catalogue is so that it can support the following: 

      Support strategic planning and align data use with strategic goals by providing timely, relevant, and localised data that is directly connected to key themes and priorities in the RCT Council Corporate Plan. 

      Help staff find evidence aligned to specific areas of the HDRC Evidence Pie, ensuring that research and data are directly linked to the wider determinants of health.  

      Empower staff and citizens through transparency and ease of use, supporting the development of research literacy and informed decision-making. 

      Enhance impact assessments by integrating data into socio-economic and equality evaluations. 

      Enable cross-sector collaboration by offering shared access to evidence across health, education, housing, and community services.  

      The catalogue includes resources from trusted sources such as Public Health Wales, the Office for National Statistics, Audit Wales, to name a few. Each contains relevant metadata including its purpose, geographic and demographic scope, update frequency, and relevance to HDRC priority areas, etc.—ensuring users can quickly find what they need. 

      Note: RCT Council-specific data and evidence currently included in the catalogue are limited to publicly available materials.